Efficient transport system vital for progress

Only a few months after Ethiopia launched its light rail transit system, Tanzania followed suit with the bus rapid transit one. President Kenyatta announced that Kenya’s light rail transit project, in partnership with Hungary, is planned to take off in June.

For Nairobi’s growing population and transit patterns, the project is a cost-effective and enduring solution. Kenya’s intention to use road reserves to construct the railway system will also reduce the high capital costs associated with land acquisition.

These projects are key markers of progress towards mass transport in East Africa and a step in the right direction in addressing development and climate change challenges. The Sustainable Development Goals reinforce the need for reliable transport.

Transportation challenges in developing countries that lead to congestion and pollution are due to urbanisation, increased motorisation among a burgeoning middle class, low industrialisation that keeps economies reliant on second-hand cars, and lack of infrastructure to support non-motorised transport.

Transport solutions that address these challenges result in positive economic, environmental, and social impacts.

The transport sector is a key contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable mass transit systems reduce vehicular emissions by employing cleaner, low-emission technologies and decreasing the number of vehicles on the road.

For developing countries that rely on second-hand vehicles, reducing motorisation and single-vehicle occupancy is vital in resolving air and noise pollution. A reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads also eases traffic congestion, improves road safety, and significantly reduces time wasted in traffic.

It lessens road depreciation and reduces road maintenance costs. Efficient mobility extends activity range, enabling employers and employees to access more workers and opportunities respectively.

Light rail transit systems catalyse residential and commercial developments along transit routes. This develops other urban areas, decongests cities, and resolves other urbanisation challenges.

PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEES

The overall result of all these improvements is more productive employees, businesses, and economies and better quality of life for citizens.

Successfully implementing, operating, and maintaining sustainable transport projects depends on good governance, innovation, and the political will to deliver programmes that benefit the economy.

In this regard, Kenya could learn from other countries in Africa how to resolve challenges. For example, in contrast to Ethiopia’s delivery of light rail transport system in three years, Nigeria, encumbered by governance shortcomings, is yet to complete the Lagos project that began in 2010.

Tanzania adopted a public private partnership (PPP) model to deliver the Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit project. Well designed, transparently procured and managed PPPs eliminate inefficiencies and operational challenges.

The transition to sustainable mass transport calls for deliberate strategy and change management to ensure seamless transitions for the large labour force that currently serves the public transport sector through matatus, motorbikes, and buses. Ultimately, comprehensive sustainable transport needs to improve the efficiency of entire transport systems and requires the cooperation of various ministries.

Kenya’s pursuit of a light rail transit system needs to be augmented with policies, innovations, and solutions that encourage non-motorised transport choices and make mass transit attractive enough to out-compete single-occupancy vehicles.

Ms Kaaria is the CEO of Creide. [email protected].